Jensen named sustainability coordinator

City Manager Wally Bobkiewicz announced today the appointment of Kumar Jensen as Evanston’s sustainability coordinator.

Jensen takes on responsibility for the city’s environmental sustainability initiatives previously managed by former Sustainabilty Manager Catherine Hurley who left the city late last year. Jensen will report directly to the city manager.

In this new role, Jensen will manage strategic planning, program development and project implementation to address energy efficiency, water and waste reduction, renewable energy and climate change. He will also work on natural resources policy and challenges facing Evanston’s urban forest.

The city’s larger portfolio of livability initiatives previously managed in the Office of Sustainability will now by coordinated by Community Development Director Johanna Leonard. 

Jensen joined the City of Evanston in 2014 as the sustainability fellow for the Office of Sustainability. During his tenure with the City, he has served as the Evanston Environment Board staff liaison, Age Friendly Task Force liaison, staff lead on the energy and water benchmarking ordinance, coordinator of the annual Evanston Recycles and Clean up Evanston events.

Recently as the environmental project coordinator within the Public Works Agency, Kumar has focused on writing and issuing a new set of solid waste RFPs for residential services and leading the city’s participation in the Thriving Earth Exchange .

Prior to joining the City of Evanston, Jensen worked at his alma mater, Earlham College in Indiana, as the sustainability program associate focusing on outreach and engagement initiatives as well as campus-wide waste reduction.

He holds a bachelor’s degree in environmental studies from Earlham and is a certified TreeKeeper, International Society of Sustainability Professionals Associate and has completed the Illinois Certified Domestic Violence 40-Hour Training.

“Kumar has distinguished himself in the past three years through his dedication to the environment and quality of life in Evanston.  This new role shifts the focus of the Office of Sustainability back to its original purposes of energy efficiency, water and waste reduction, renewable energy and climate change.  I look forward to Kumar’s leadership in these areas.” Bobkiewicz said.